Five novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ghrelin receptor (GHSR) gene in cattle (Brief report)

Abstract. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (ghrelin receptor, GHSR) gene plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. The GHSR gene lies on human chromosome 3q26 within a quantitative trait locus strongly linked to multiple phenotypes related to obesity and the metabolic syndrome (BAESSLER et al., 2005). In human, the 171T/C SNP mutation is a risk factor for bulimia nervosa (MIYASAKA et al., 2006). The 611 C/A transversion unveils the critical importance of the GHSR-associated constitutive activity, and discloses an unusual pathogenic mechanism of growth failure in humans (PANTEL et al., 2006). By now, no polymorphism of bovine GHSR gene is reported. In the present paper, partial 5’ untranslated region, coding region and partial 3’ untranslated region of GHSR were screened to detect the SNPs in Chinese cattle breeds.